The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Some of the earliest 78 RPM jukeboxes used set-screw-mounted straight, sapphire-tipped, needles/styli.

These appear to be not entirely dissimilar to conventional loud-tone steel needles for acoustic machines, although the diameter of the shafts here seems a bit larger than what the needle chuck of an acoustic machine might accommodate.

Has anyone ever tried using a sapphire-tipped stylus with an accoustic machine?

I tried a sapphire tipped "needle" as well as one with an osmium tip on my erstwhile Credenza. Both caused immediate record damage on shellac records. The tips were coated with fine black dust. I've heard using a carefully adjusted counter-weight will enable them to be used safely, but have never tried this.

OrthoFan

OrthoFan wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 3:00 pm I tried a sapphire tipped "needle" as well as one with an osmium tip on my erstwhile Credenza. Both caused immediate record damage on shellac records. The tips were coated with fine black dust. I've heard using a carefully adjusted counter-weight will enable them to be used safely, but have never tried this.

OrthoFan

Thank you for sharing your experience.